We've upped the water levels on Greylake to near their maximum and are now waiting for some rain before we can get them to their ideal level for the winter. The lapwing and golden plover are usually further down the reserve or on the fields by the roadside approaching the reserve and there have been over 100 dunlin around and a few black-tailed godwits. There are at least three marsh harriers and with buzzards and the occasional peregrine they ensure that the wildfowl and waders go up frequently for everyone to see. Indeed this morning one of our regular visitors saw three marsh harriers having a go at a peregrine which had caught what seemed to be a starling, forcing it to drop it. However the tenacious peregrine retrieved it's breakfast before the one of the harriers could claim it. Also look out for little and great white egret which are still present. Stonechats may be seen flitting along the fence line if you're lucky. There have been bittern and bearded reedlings about but the new cold spell may have seen them off. Fieldfares have been using the site and Rob saw a large flock of redwing near Burrowbridge last week.
One of our female marsh harriers (David Miller)
From Rob and Jo today:
"It was very very cold and windy but the sun was shining so good for seeing the birds in great colour.
Once we got to the hide we did see many more duck: teal, wigeon, shoveler and mallard. Shoveler and wigeon were mainly on the scrape behind the hide. The "white" buzzard flew over them and for some reason spooked them all so that they flew over the hide and into the reserve in front of the hide. Lovely flight movements. The sun shining on the birds was brilliant with their colours really standing out especially the teal and mallards.
Snipe in small numbers flying up and away from time to time. In front of the hide we eventually found one snipe poking it's head up and moving about. Then another one very close did the same.....but....this one wasn't the same so much looking and comparing the two we are very sure that it was a jack snipe.
The marsh harriers were seen quartering over the reeds for a long time. One seemed to hover over one spot for some time and then dived into the reeds and on the third go came out with a small rodent in it's talons and moved off to a grassy area to eat it. When the white buzzard came too near it went and had a go at it to move it on.
Water rail seen on the path going towards the hide as well as in the coppice area. Good views. One visitor thought that a flock of pintail had flown over him on his way to the hide but no signs of pintail seen. Too early for them yet? No small birds seen...don't blame them...apart from in the picnic area and car park. Loads of chaffinches (still not a brambling) and starlings."
Our management focus this week was on finishing our first section of hedge laying at Fivehead Wood.
Finished hedge below Fivehead Wood (Annie Pickering)
The feeders in Swell Wood continue to attract the usual tits (including marsh) and nuthatch.
The amazing Swell Wood (Helen Williams)
We did put the moth trap out this week. December Moth wasn't too much of a surprise, neither was Winter Moth in the house.
December Moth (David Miller)